I just installed some ROX 2" Anti-Vibration risers on my '09 S. Now I can stand up straight on the pegs and not have to lean forward for the bars. I don't know why I didn't get some of these a long time ago. Much more comfortable sitting or standing.

Now all I need is a small windshield.

It's something I've been meaning to do for a while. Any notable snags in the installation? Cables long enough, etc? Did you rotate the throttle assembly to get extra length? Any tips or suggestions or lessons learned?

PS:
The origin of the word comes from old sailing ships and the pins that held the rudder in place, when engines were installed in older sailing ships the term was then transferred to the current usage :-)

__________________
A good time to keep your mouth shut is when your in deep water

it's a bike i'm considering to buy as a fixer upper...2005 drz 400 sm. it has a jet kit and a manual cam chain tensioner. the rest is stock. it has about 14,000 miles and he thinks the noise is coming from the top end. otherwise, the bike is supposedly mint. he says the bike still runs, but with the noise now. he describes the noise as a bearing type of noise. the noise doesn't differ going from neutral to gear, but it gets louder as it revs. noise started about a month ago and he stopped riding when the noise started.

are there any specific questions i should ask to narrow down what the problem really is, so i can see if it's going to be a major repair issue. that'll determine the price i offer.

when i go to take a look for myself, what should i be looking and/or listening for? i'm not familiar with this bike so i need all the help i can get to diagnose the issue the best i can..

i'm not sure if he'll let me take it for a test spin...but if he does, anything in particular i should pay attention to?

if the engine issue is fairly serious, what do you think is a fair price considering the work, time and effort that will go into getting it back to good shape?

it's a bike i'm considering to buy as a fixer upper...2005 drz 400 sm. it has about 14,000 miles and he thinks the noise is coming from the top end. otherwise, the bike is supposedly mint. he says the bike still runs, but there is that noise so he stopped riding it.

are there any specific questions i should ask to narrow down what the problem really is, so i can see if it's going to be a major repair issue. that'll determine the price i offer.

when i go to take a look for myself, what should i be looking and/or listening for? i'm not familiar with this bike so i need all the help i can get to diagnose the issue the best i can..

i'm not sure if he'll let me take it for a test spin...but if he does, anything in particular i should pay attention to?

if the engine issue is fairly serious, what do you think is a fair price considering the work, time and effort that will go into getting it back to good shape?

Thanks so much for your help!

The one thing I can think of before I head home is, is it a clacking noise or a hard knock kind of noise? Have you heard it yourself?

If it is a clacking noise does the bike still have the automatic cam chain tensioner?? If yes it COULD be a loose cam chain. To check you will need to replace the automatic one with a manual one. Do you know anybody with a DRZ that has the manual one that you could "borrow"?

If it is a hard knock it very well could be the wrist pin or worst case the rod bearing. Then you might be talking big bucks.

The one thing I can think of before I head home is, is it a clacking noise or a hard knock kind of noise? Have you heard it yourself?

If it is a clacking noise does the bike still have the automatic cam chain tensioner?? If yes it COULD be a loose cam chain. To check you will need to replace the automatic one with a manual one. Do you know anybody with a DRZ that has the manual one that you could "borrow"?

If it is a hard knock it very well could be the wrist pin or worst case the rod bearing. Then you might be talking big bucks.

Gotta run! Hope this helps.

he has a manual cam chain tensioner.

i have not heard or seen the bike in person yet. he wants $1500 for it.

what should i listen for to determine if it's the worst case scenario like the rod bearing? the guy describes the noise as a bearing noise.

i have not heard or seen the bike in person yet. he wants $1500 for it.

what should i listen for to determine if it's the worst case scenario like the rod bearing? the guy describes the noise as a bearing noise.

Even with the manual cam chain tensioner the noise could still be cam chain. The problem with the manual tensioner is people seem to set it and forget it. Cam chains slowly wear and stretch over time and the manual tensioner needs to be adjusted to compensate.

it's a bike i'm considering to buy as a fixer upper...2005 drz 400 sm. it has a jet kit and a manual cam chain tensioner. ......

if the engine issue is fairly serious, what do you think is a fair price considering the work, time and effort that will go into getting it back to good shape?

Thanks so much for your help!

Take some video of the bike running and post it on the thumpertalker DRZ forum, those guys are extremely helpful in diagnosing problems.

Personally, after my recent experience with a used DRZ400E, I'd pass unless the price was simply to good to pass up (less than $1400.00).

FWIW, I was quoted $1400 to rebuild my seized motor with a BB kit, that includes a valve job and a different crank and rod. That doesn't include shipping, both way, roughly $150.00 plus a shipping container.

it's a bike i'm considering to buy as a fixer upper...2005 drz 400 sm. it has a jet kit and a manual cam chain tensioner. the rest is stock. it has about 14,000 miles and he thinks the noise is coming from the top end. otherwise, the bike is supposedly mint. he says the bike still runs, but with the noise now. he describes the noise as a bearing type of noise. the noise doesn't differ going from neutral to gear, but it gets louder as it revs. noise started about a month ago and he stopped riding when the noise started.

are there any specific questions i should ask to narrow down what the problem really is, so i can see if it's going to be a major repair issue. that'll determine the price i offer.

when i go to take a look for myself, what should i be looking and/or listening for? i'm not familiar with this bike so i need all the help i can get to diagnose the issue the best i can..

i'm not sure if he'll let me take it for a test spin...but if he does, anything in particular i should pay attention to?

if the engine issue is fairly serious, what do you think is a fair price considering the work, time and effort that will go into getting it back to good shape?

Thanks so much for your help!

DRZs are not hard to find, you do not need to take any risk. If you can't get it for a price based on worst case scenario, then buy a different DRZ.
My 2c

Just kidding on the request for help. I'm sure I'll get it sorted out. It ran fine on the last ride 6 weeks ago. I've got to tear the carb bowl off to replace a weeping gasket, so I'll clean that out, and check for spark. It turned over like a champ, but didn't give the slightest indication of firing. Very unusual, as it always fires right up.

__________________
We don't stop riding because we get old, we get old because we stop riding."Wisdom is knowing what to do next, Skill is knowing how to do it, and Virtue is doing it"